The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 1148 - 262: Time of Death_4

Pei Wendong was about to speak again when he saw her pull out a dagger and press it against her throat, her complexion changing, "Xie Yi! Don’t be rash!"

"I’m not being rash! And I won’t die! Brother Wendong! I just want to be with you! I’m afraid of losing you! If you really have to send me away, then I only have death left!" Xie Yi smiled miserably, the dagger piercing her skin and beading a drop of blood red.

Pei Wendong gazed at her intently, deeply looking at her, "Xie Yi! I arranged for you to go somewhere else to give you a way out. If you insist on staying, I hope you won’t have regrets."

"I won’t regret it! I’m willing to be a concubine!" Two tears fell down Xie Yi’s cheeks and dropped onto her clothes, spreading out in a bloom.

Pei Wendong watched her for a while, then stood up and left.

Xie Yi watched his retreating back, slowly put down the dagger, and stared at the cooling food on the table. It had been him who had saved her and brought them all to the Capital Jingcheng! He had promised to marry her and to make her happy for life! But since coming to the capital, her heart had cooled like the dishes on the table.

Become a concubine? She had once sworn never to be one! But now, he was forcing her into that role. Because he was marrying a Commandery Princess!

Fine! She could be a concubine!

But she didn’t want to be Pei Wendong’s concubine!

They had said she harbored ulterior motives, seducing Mo Heng, so she would try seducing for real! After all, she was to be a concubine anyway! She wanted to make it worthwhile! She wanted to make both Pei Wendong and Pei Qin deeply regret it!

Now that she was temporarily settled, Pei Wendong began to prepare for the engagement and the betrothal matters.

Mo Heng hired an official matchmaker.

Pei Qin specifically invited Jiang Gan, a distinguished elder and Grand Secretary, to be the Ice Man, giving the occasion the utmost respect.

Pei Wendong’s facial injury had not yet healed, the scabs not even fallen off yet, but he could not stay out of sight forever, so he had no choice but to greet Prince An Ping and The Princess with such a marred face.

At the sight of the scars on his face, The Princess was taken aback, "Those scars..." She had thought that her daughter had only left a few marks. The imperial edict had already been decreed, and if it ruined his looks...

Pei Wendong managed a slight smile, "Your Highness! The wound has scabbed over, and once the scab falls, applying some scar removal ointment, it should heal in a while. The Commandery Princess didn’t use too much force; it won’t leave permanent scars."

Prince An Ping looked at him, feeling that there was something different about him since the last time they met, a certain restraint. He still seemed young but had rapidly gained a weight of maturity. Thinking about the recent events outside and his inability to participate in the imperial examinations, the Prince’s gaze shifted subtly and asked him, "We don’t know what may happen at the next imperial examination. What are your plans for the future?"

"I’ve studied mathematics for more than a decade; it must be put to use," replied Pei Wendong.

"Mathematics?" Prince An Ping only knew that he had been studying with Mo Heng since childhood and had been carefully taught by him, excelling in his studies. But he was unaware that he had learned mathematics for so many years.

Pei Wendong nodded, showcasing his skills in front of his future in-laws. He was quite sensitive about mathematics. Taught by his elder sister, also during his travels with Xiao Yong and Yonglin, and learned with Brother Songming, he wanted to systematize these things if he had the time. Dikes, bridges, flood discharge calculations—he could do all of that. He could even build ships! Brother Songming said he wanted to create the largest ship in the world.

After an exchange of questions and answers, Prince An Ping realized that this future son-in-law had a keen expertise in water management. If he devoted another ten years of diligent study, he would become indispensable to The Imperial Court’s water management efforts! There were far too many who were all talk and no action! The Court was indeed in need of such talents!

Unfortunately, Xiao Guangzhao sought to weaken Pei Qin and Mo Heng’s power, pressing down on them and not permitting Pei Wendong to take part in the imperial examinations. After marrying Princess Xiyun, the daughter of the deposed prince, his prospects of standing out seemed even more hopeless.

Looking at Pei Qin and Mo Heng, Prince An Ping felt there was no need to worry too much. Although he had little contact with Pei Qin, she was an exceptionally intelligent person, and with Mo Heng’s protection, if Xiao Guangzhao truly harbored murderous intent, the victim might not necessarily be who one would expect. Xiao Guangmin laughed and acknowledged Pei Wendong as his son-in-law.

Princess Anping still thought about Xie Yi and asked Pei Wendong how he was going to deal with the matter, "I heard it was you who saved her, and you’ve already promised to take responsibility for her. Don’t consort with a concubine before the princess has even entered your home."

"Having Princess Xiyun as my wife is the honor of three lifetimes. I shall not let the princess suffer in this life! As for Xie Yi, I will arrange a new life for her." Pei Wendong did not dispel this decision.

Princess Anping could hardly be satisfied. To accuse him of creating chaos at the beginning and abandoning at the end, that means he still has to take responsibility for Xie Yi. Just as her daughter is married, there is already a concubine. To praise him would not be right either, in the same situation, marrying her daughter, yet abandoning another, could it be said he lusts for wealth and noble status!?

Xiao Guangmin, previously the Crown Prince, had his share of concubines too, and didn’t care that much about men taking concubines; after all, a concubine could never surpass the main wife. However, regarding Pei Wendong’s intentions, "You’re not planning to take a concubine anymore?"

Pei Wendong was startled for a moment, understood his question, and smiled faintly, "I hope to accompany only one woman safely in this life. Together forever, just us two." No matter how things had started, if he was to marry Princess Xiyun, he would be responsible for her all his life.

Even if they were sweet nothings, these words barely won over Princess Anping’s heart.

When these words reached Princess Xiyun’s ears, she did not believe a word, "Liar! He’s even better at deceiving! He previously said that he would take responsibility for Xie Yi and would not marry me! Now he says such pleasing words, he’s even better at lying than Pei Hansan! Their family just produces liars!

No matter if it’s a lie or not, the marriage was settled, and Pei Wendong, having passed the new year, was not young either. Princess Xiyun would also be sixteen after the new year, and Mo Heng directly set the wedding date for April 25th, when the weather is neither hot nor cold, most suitable.

Pei Qin felt it was a bit early, as both were still youthful and getting married so early didn’t seem too good.

Pei Wendong had no objections, and Prince An Ping accepted, so all she could do was watch.

The betrothal gifts and exchanges quickly got underway.

And this imperial decree for the arranged marriage also sparked a wave of speculation. Everyone guessed at the Emperor’s intentions and Xiao Guang’s purpose. Pei Qin, clearly a supporter of the Emperor’s ascension, so why would she allow her brother to marry the daughter of the deposed prince?

When the Zheng family heard the news, Second Madam Zheng scolded Xie Yi at home, "She prefers outsiders over her own, she won’t even be a concubine, now look at her end! Idiot! Someone else is marrying a commandery princess, climbing up high, and she didn’t seize Mo Heng and the opportunity, now she has to become a concubine to that impoverished scholar Pei Wendong without anything to her name!"

"Mo Heng will certainly take concubines too! Pei Qin is too deeply poisoned, she can’t bear children!" Zheng Yuehan was still not giving up.

Second Madam Zheng had someone quietly send a message to Xie Yi.

And Lady Zhu, Old Pei, Pei Wenli, Kong’s, Pei Houli, and others had also arrived in Capital Jingcheng.

Not only them, but the parents of Dalang from the village also came.

Pei Wenchen came out to meet them, "You’ve arrived, Master Duxu and the others have also arrived!" Pei Qin’s end was also approaching!